Angels Costumes, which was founded in 1840, will receive the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award after more than a century working with the film industry.

The family-run business, based in London, is the world's largest professional costume house and has received 36 Best Costume Oscars over the years, dating back to Laurence Olivier's Hamlet in 1948 and most recently for The Grand Budapest Hotel last year.

Dame Pippa Harris, chairwoman of Bafta's film committee, said the company remained "at the very heart" of the film industry.

"I'm delighted that Bafta is honouring the costumiers Angels," she said.

"It's extraordinary to think that the company has been in existence longer than Bafta or indeed cinema itself. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient."

Tim Angel, chairman of Angels Costumes, said the award recognised the "incredibly-talented people that have worked for the company over the years".

He said: "To have been at the heart of the British and international film industry from the very start is an incredible achievement, and we are all honoured to play a role in its continued growth.

"As cinema has evolved and changed, so too has Angels, and we are looking forward to seeing what the next hundred years of film will bring."

Angels has supplied costumes to a range of classic films such as Dr Zhivago, Chariots of Fire, Shakespeare in Love and Gladiator.

It has also made costumes for some of the most-successful movie franchises in history including the Harry Potter, James Bond and Pirates of the Caribbean series.

Angels first worked with the film industry for the 1913 movie Maid of the Mountains. Alfred Hitchcock, Richard Attenborough, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese are among the famous directors who have since gone on to work with the firm.

The company also supplied costumes to several films nominated at this year's Baftas including Cinderella, The Danish Girl and Bridge of Spies.

Their collection of clothes covers eight miles of hanging rails and includes more than one million items of clothing. As well as working with the film industry, the company provides costumes for theatre and television including hit ITV series Downton Abbey.

Previous winners of the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award include Sir Kenneth Branagh, Ridley Scott, John Hurt, Mike Leigh, the Harry Potter film series and last year's recipient BBC Films.

The Bafta awards take place at the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden on February 14. The ceremony, hosted by Stephen Fry, will be broadcast on BBC One.